Croke Park to be carbon-free

The new joint project between the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), entitled Cul Green, aims to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of Ireland’s most popular sporting venue over the next six years.

Croke Park has an annual output of 4,500 tonnes of carbon emissions and Cul Green aims to cut this by more than two-thirds.

A total of 2.2m people attended the stadium last year and it is estimated that fans travelling to games also produced carbon emissions of 15,000 tonnes.

The ESB will conduct an energy efficiency audit and the stadium will change its energy contract supply to be from a renewable source.

Nickey Brennan, president of the GAA, said the ESB’s track record makes it an “excellent sustainability partner” for the organisation.

“This initiative will set a standard of responsibility towards the environment for all our supporters and is a showcase for what can be achieved through the active participation and behaviour of our fans,” said Mr Brennan.

Croke Park, in central Dublin, is the historic home of Gaelic games and made history in 2007 when it first hosted international rugby and football fixtures.